see that suitcase? i bought it at a garage sale & was DYING to use it on a shoot...then came along Jackie, who happened to have the perfect outfit to go with it! it was a pleasure doing this shoot cuz Jackie had the most amazing outfits...i mean who else would show up with a dress made of glass :) The light also was incredible that afternoon. i luv the shadow play it creates as u can see from the second shot.

I'm afraid i'm a bit behind in the blogging. It's quite a task to keep up with all the social networking :) Anyway, see the gorgeous hydrangea...i cut it fresh from our garden for this special shoot. i was so glad i did ! The family i photographed was SO incredibly nice & down to earth...now for the kids- have you ever seen such gorgeous little ones! i've learned over the years that the best pictures are the ones where kids get to be kids...yes, it took me a while. i was the mom who, when mine were little, used to insist on getting that "perfect" shot with the "perfect" smile in the "perfect" outfit. well, live & learn !

Quiet Time.

Was assisting Shang Chen Photography on an engagement shoot in the evening...I took the first two images without a flash which goes to show that one can find available light sources even when it's pitch black !  The wonderful, blinding light is coming from the construction site. The construction workers may need sunglasses..lol :)

This was one of the most amazing locations for me as a photographer! The shadow play in all the different corners, the natural light variations, the textures, and shapes. I felt like a little kid at Christmas...and then there's the model. You guys remember Caroline. She was so cool to do a black & white vintage shoot that i was obsessed on doing after watching old movie favorites like Roman Holiday ... 

Fun, free spirits, supportive and loving...that's how i'd describe the family. It was a total joy to have a chance to photograph them. I had to put on my running shoes again to keep up with the little one as well as the big ones. It's easy to forget how much energy they have, but it's cool at the same time. Toddlers have their own agenda. Serious things, you know...like being able to catch "the" bubble.

Did you ever meet someone who is willing to take time out of their busy schedule to share what they know? Caroline is one of those people, a beam of sunshine. Not only is she a professional photographer I admire, but she also does modeling for her personal fashion blog..http://caroekgphotography.com/ and http://caroekg.blogspot.com/

http://jenpicsphotography.com   Check it out - brand new website !

Photographed gorgeous handmade silk scarves for textile artist, Roopa. Each scarf is hand dyed and the embroidery is custom designed. Her scarves can be found on Etsy under Menon Designs. Ck out other designs on my photography page -JenPics Photography if you get a chance :)

Timeless

In this day and age, with all the temporary trendy high tech toys .... this image reminds me that this is one cool invention that has been around for awhile & made kids happy from the time they can just reach the control to the time when they are almost adults.

What was so interesting to me as a photographer is being able to capture such dramatically different looks even though the images were taken at the same time of the day by playing around with the settings ! Is this a run on sentence or what...lol

okay...what i luv about this shot are the mysterious passengers in it & the detail of the steel railings. The reflections appear to be curtains to me. The vintage cars are so cool. Also luv all the detail of the buildings behind it - so many geometric shapes.

Look at this GLORIOUS natural light!!!  Photographers go crazy over it :)  I was asked to photograph a rehearsal for an upcoming musical and was reminded of the hard work that goes on behind the productions. It was energizing seeing all the talent ! What I loved too was the humble nature of the artists. It was a little challenging as a photographer to shoot in a low light situation, but learned a lot...

 For our mother's day gathering, I ended up taking portraits of each family member- some serious & some crazy, silly. I was so excited to try this new setup and amazed that I was able to get even the most camera-shy members to participate in my little project!

My favorite little model....I luv taking pictures of little ones.  They are so honest with their expressions. Kids are SO crazy happy with the simplist (not a word, is it) little things like bubbles, balloons, and bugs - the 3 Bs ! Gotta luv 'em.

I took hundreds of shots at this stunning wedding, but this image is one of my personal favorites. I luv the light / dark contrast and the silhouette as well as the shadow play....

Sometimes, simplicity is good.  It's amazing how may options there are for images different colors & tones to affect the mood of the shot.  If you've been following for awhile, you'll notice I like the golden tones, don't know why. I luv using natural light... I like being creative with my pictures vs. getting them technically perfect.

OMG....learning so much in the last few days. First-time shooting RAW is crazy at first.  Super excited about the opportunity to be a second shooter at a wedding & to work and learn from a pro.  I've decided to be more positive & take chances.

Here is one of my first few images shot RAW.

My camera now can get pretty good macro shots, but I have to get about a foot away to do so....time to invest in a telephoto. Maybe I will rent or borrow, we'll see.

Did a special grandpa/ grandson shoot....we were very lucky that we were approaching golden hour with no rain in sight (a photographer's dream). We planned to shoot with them on a little train, but when we arrived, the gates were closed & the train was gone :( . We did the entire shoot in an empty parking lot !

I found this PERFECT little spot off the lot, where most of the close-ups were shot. I was running and out of breath by the end. Toddlers are an active bunch! I'm very proud of this set cuz I got to capture all the shots that I had envisioned for months. It helps to have a perfect little model without attitude, too.haha

The other day I went to the beach for a walk...I was surprised to find that the beach was covered with hundreds of these beautiful rocks- each one so different from the others in colors and textures.  Normally, there are none. I was so disappointed that I didn't have the camera with me, but I did sneak a few home.

I luv the bold colors and lighting in this restaurant...